Biography

Desi Arnaz Jr.

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Overview

Born
January 19, 1953 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Birth name
Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV
Height
5′ 11″ (1.80 m)

Biography

Desi Arnaz Jr. has lived in Boulder City, Nevada, since 1986, where he owns the Historic Boulder Theatre and helps direct non-profit Boulder City Ballet Company (BCBC) with his wife, Amy Arnaz. Boulder Theatre was built in 1932 during the construction of Hoover Dam and operated as a movie theatre until it could no longer compete with the new, modern movie theaters in Las Vegas. When it closed, Desi purchased the theatre and converted it into a live theatre where BCBC performs and where Desi has produced many shows including: "Ricci, Desi & Billy" (a new version of Dino, Desi & Billy), "An Evening with Linda Purl", Torme' Sings Torme', "The Legacy of Laughter", "An Evening with Lucille Ball" (starring Suzanne LaRusch as Lucille Ball), Michael Johnson, "A Tribute to Dean Martin" (by Ricci Martin), "Dam Short Film Festival", "Chautauqua", "The Nutcracker", "Sleeping Beauty", "Swan Lake", annual children's dance recitals from Dance Etc. and many more shows. Haley Arnaz is his wife's child from her first marriage and Desi adopted her when they married in 1987. Desi also has an older daughter, Julia, who lives on the east coast. Recently, Desi has performed "Babalu" (a show dedicated to the music of his father) with his sister Lucie Arnaz in NYC, Miami and in Washington D.C. at the Library of Congress. Most recently, Desi & Lucie appeared at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, discussing the music of I Love Lucy (1951) and performed two of their father's songs - "Old Straw Hat" & "Cuban Pete" - with the accompaniment of Ron Abel on the piano.
- IMDb mini biography by: Amy Arnaz

Family

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Trivia

Was believed to be the biological father of Patty Duke's oldest son Sean Astin until the two men developed a friendship and agreed to blood testing in the 1990s.
Son of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball.
Legally adopted his stepdaughter, Haley Arnaz. Mother is Amy Arnaz. Father is Amy's first husband, Gary Charf. Haley is also a performer.
Portrayed his own father, Desi Arnaz, in The Mambo Kings (1992).
Residing with wife Amy Arnaz in Boulder City, Nevada where they own the Boulder Theatre (a former cinema converted into a live theater) and are very active in conducting the Boulder City Ballet Company and in civic affairs.